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LAS VEGAS -- The Northern Trust Open is a tournament with a long and storied history and is played at the Riviera Country Club, one of the best golf courses on the West Coast. It was originally known as the L.A. Open and has been played here since the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce put up $10,000 in prize money back in 1926. At the time, it was the richest purse in all of golf.

In 1929, the L.A. Open became the first tournament to be broadcast on radio.

In 1938, Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias became the first woman to play in a PGA event here.

In 1962, Jack Nicklaus cashed his first professional paycheck in this event. It was for $33.33.

Bill Haas was the winner of last year's tournament, as he beat Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley with a birdie-3 on the second playoff hole. The best that Haas had done in seven previous starts in this event was a tie for 12th in 2011. Mickelson has won the event twice (2008, 2009).

Riviera Country Club has hosted the US Open, the PGA Championship and the US Senior Open. It is rated by the professionals as the third-best course played on the PGA Tour.

There is a great field lined up for this week despite the absence of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Let’s take a look at a couple of guys we think have a shot this week at very juicy prices:

ADAM SCOTT (20-1) – Scott now has 18 wins around the world. He is 32 years old and in the prime of his career. After the last couple of years, he has to be considered a threat every time he tees it up, and 20-to-1 is a nice price with no Woods or McIlroy.

KEEGAN BRADLEY (30-1) – Bradley is a great long iron player, a required skill at Riviera. Bradley is a value at 30-to-1 at any time and especially here. He is driven to be one of the best players in the game, and it's clear he likes the course layout since he was in the playoff last year.

GRAEME McDOWELL (50-1) – McDowell is making his 2013 debut. The Northern Irishman likes the West Coast, having won the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach. He finished in the top 12 in all four majors last year and is supposedly in great shape. You are not going to get McDowell at 50-1 very often, so there is value with these odds.

NICOLAS COLSAERTS (60-1) – The Belgian Bomber might be ready to make a splash on the world stage. He finished tied for ninth earlier in the year at the Volvo Championships on the European Tour, and he tied for 44th at the Farmers at Torrey Pines. Colsaerts is as long as anyone out there, and that is a big advantage at Riviera. Plus he’s 60-to-1.

Two holes will play a major role in this one. The 10th is a 315-yard par 4 that is reachable off the tee for those with the guts to go for it. The 475-yard 18th is a par 4 that looks up the hill at the famous and majestic clubhouse. It is one of the best – and toughest – closing holes in golf and provides drama every year.

Riviera is one of the player’s favorite courses, and it’s one of mine too. I played it once, but I won't tell you what I shot. Too embarrassing.